17 March 2018 – Manila, Philippines: Philippine Azkals Team Manager Dan Palami calls for support for the upcoming matches of the national team, taking place on March 22 and March 27, 2018, to be held at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

The Azkals will see action on March 22 against Fiji, for an International Friendly Match, which will serve as a tune-up game for the crucial AFC Asian Cup 2019 qualifier match on March 27, 2018.

Azkals Team Manager Dan Palami says, “This is an important match for the country, and the cards are not exactly stacked against us. We are currently on top of the table of Group F with 9 points. We win or we draw, we will move forward and the country will be part of the AFC Asian Cup for the first time.”

Palami continues, “We want the ‘12th man’ to be there in both the tune-up game and the Asian Cup qualifier match. This sport deserves all the support it can get, as we have already gone far, since 2010, when I took over as Team Manager of Azkals.”

“We should also be proud of our national team players who are doing well internationally in their various clubs. Such as Neil Etheridge, currently with Cardiff City, and all other previous PFL club players, who are doing well and are now playing for neighbouring Asian countries, such as Ian Ramsay, who is currently with Felda United and Misagh Bahadoran, who is with Perak FA…And maybe this is the only way that the country or the youth can see, that aspiring for an international football career is not that impossible”, says Palami.

Tajikistan is currently ranked 124th, while the Philippines is currently ranked 122nd, in its latest rankings by FIFA, while Fiji is currently ranked 168th.

Tickets for both the Azkals vs. Fiji match, and the Azkals vs. Tajikistan match are available at www.smtickets.com.

For a father, there would be no higher compliment than the one which came from a son. And that act of gratitude shown by the son will always leave a mark every step of the way.
This is what college freshman Marcus Jerome Ejercito, one of the players in the NCR team in the recently concluded Palarong Pambansa held in Laguna last May, wants to impart on his dad who is a former PBA player, Gherome Eric Ejercito who played for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
Born Marcus Jerome R. Ejercito on November 4, 1996 in Mandaluyong City to parents Mr. Gherome Ejercito and Ms. Matz Ejercito, the 5’ 11” shooting guard from San Beda College is on his way to achieving his goal as one of the names to look out for in the collegiate basketball ranks.

Here is my interview with basketball’s future superstar Marcus Jerome Ejercito of San Beda Red Lions.
Paolo: What is your career high in points and what tournament is it?
MJ: In the Junior PBA I scored 31 points. I was a member of the Laguna team at that time.
Paolo: If there is an NBA player you wished to play with one-on-one, who will it be?
MJ: It will either be San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili or Houston Rockets’ James Harden. They are lefty and plays guard just like me.
Paolo: Who among the players you played with is the hardest to guard?
MJ: My dad. He is a tall point guard.
Paolo:What is your favorite shot?
MJ: Step back shot or side step shot.
Paolo: What exercises do you do and foods that you eat to be strong while playing?
MJ: Core and push ups, more on body weight. I eat steaks, more on protein and rice.
Paolo: How do you balance your studies and playing basketball?
MJ: There is time for basketball and there is time for studies. After practice, I do extra work then after that, the rest would be for school.
Paolo: What is your ambition in life?
MJ: I want to finish my school and also play basketball. I also want to have a business of my own.
Email the author at paolomanuelfule@yahoo.com or text 09184059751.

Without their illing backcourt general Derrick Rose, Bulls’ Stellar rookie Nikola Mirotic covered the sore for Chicago Bulls as he blasted a career-high 27 points including his perfect six out of six shooting beyond the arc to pull off an upset triumph over the Memphis Grizzlies, 103-97, at FedEx Forum, Memphis, Dec. 19.
Jimmy Butler also contributed big with 31 points and 10 rebounds together with his series of short daggers at the crucial moments almost tying up his career-high 35 point break-out at their last game with New York Knicks.
Struggling Mike Conley of Memphis managed to produce 21 points with 7/18 outing along the double-double stats of Marc Gasol, 13 points and 10 rebounds but not enough to beat his older brother, Pau Gasol with 6 points and 11 rebounds in their basketball rivalry.
Bulls built-up a reachable nine point-lead with less than five minutes remaining on the clock courtesy of hard slashes and impeccable timing by Butler, 87-78 that put the pressure on the other side.
Home team Grizzlies trimmed down the gap little by little through younger Gasol’s might at the shaded area with more than 1 minute away but the white shirts failed to stop the heroic deeds of Butler down the stretch that sealed their loss.
Both teams started the opening quarter with the slow pace together with the bad start of the Gasol Brothers infecting the whole team that resulted to a low 22-20 finish in the opening salvo in favor of Grizzlies.
Grizzlies had their chance to come closer at the end of the first half but Mirotic’s hot hands from downtown executed well that lifted up their momentum entering the third quarter,51-43.
Aside from missing Rose, Bulls also lost their Power Forward, Taj Gibson due to sprained right ankle but still managed to keep up with the pace of Grizzlies inside the paint.
Chicago improved their standings with their 17-9 campaign after pulling down the soaring Grizzlies with 21-5 win-loss record.
“He’s not afraid. He makes tough plays, he hustles all the time, he’s never satisfied, and I love that about him.” Bulls’ coach Tom Thibodeau said about the impressive performance of Mirotic.
Editor’s note: Tom Joel Paliangayan is a 4th year high school student in Liceo de San Pedro. He is a qualifier for the RSPC in Lipa City this January for Sports Writing.

Perseverance and the will to win amidst difficulties are qualities that UE Red Warrior Lorenz Viajar has in store for his stint in this year’s UAAP juniors tournament. Let us take a glimpse of this future superstar’s preparations for his basketball career and more.

Born Lorenz Gerard A. Viajar on May 13, 1998 to Leon Viajar and Ma. Ophelia Viajar, this 6-foot-2 UE juniors stand out has a lot of what it takes to become the next basketball sensation in the country. Born in Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte, this shooting guard cager from UE has become a part of the top 10 players in Mindanao leg twice for the Junior NBA. He also received Jr. NBA hustle player award and Jr. NBA top 20 players. He also played for the Palarong Pambansa twice, and became a member of the mythical five in Balanghai Sports Elite League.

“The person who taught me to lay the sport is my dad Leon Viajar”, said Lorenz who scored his career high 23 points in a single game. In the NBA, he idolizes Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, while in the PBA, he looks up to James Yap. In the UAAP, his idol is co-UE Warrior Roi Sumang. “Being a student-athlete, student comes first. I make sure to follow my schedule and finish my school projects first before playing basketball”, added the beaming cager from UE. His goal for this year’s UAAP juniors basketball tournament is for their team to be at the final four. His ambition in life is to become a professional basketball player in the PBA.

Currently, he is playing for the University of the East Red Warriors. We hope that Lorenz can make a name for him and be an inspiration to every young Filipino that with perseverance and a brave heart, they can reach for their respective goals in life. Let us wait and see this upcoming superstar battle it out in the arena.